It’s flu season, and this year looks set to be worse than the last.
The flu jab is a safe and effective vaccine. It’s offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
But who’s eligible to get the jab for free? Here’s everything you need to know.
Who is eligible for the flu jab?
More than 40 million people across the UK are being offered the flu jab for free this winter – the biggest ever flu vaccination drive.
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to people who:
- are 50 and over (including those who’ll be 50 by 31 March 2022)
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant
- are in long-stay residential care
- receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
- live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
- frontline health or social care workers
Where can I get the jab?
You can have the NHS flu vaccine at:
- your GP surgery
- a pharmacy offering the service
- your midwifery service if you’re pregnant
- a hospital appointment
You will be contacted and offered the vaccine if you are eligible. If you think you should have been offered it but haven’t, then contact your GP.
Will flu be worse this winter?
The Government has warned of a spike in flu infections.
A report from the Academy of Medical Sciences suggested the UK could see as many as 60,000 flu deaths this winter.
Dr Nikki Kanani, medical director of primary care at NHS England, said: “This year it is more vital than ever that all children and eligible adults take up the offer of the free vaccine, as we head into one of the most challenging winters yet for the NHS”.
Helen Whately told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “One thing I’m doing as Care Minister is looking ahead to the winter, where we can anticipate we may get a surge in Covid again because that’s the thing that happens with this kind of virus.
“We are also likely to see flu again this winter and particularly this winter because we didn’t have much flu around last winter.”
Dr Jenny Harries, the UK Health Security Agency chief executive, has said catching both viruses could be fatal, as people are twice as likely to die if they contract both at the same time.
Dr Harries told Sky’s Trevor Phillips On Sunday: “I think the important thing about this winter is, we are likely to see flu, for the first time in any real numbers, co-circulating with Covid.
“So the risks of catching both together still remain.
“And if you do that, then early evidence suggests that you are twice as likely to die from having two together, than just having Covid alone.
“So I think it’s an uncertain winter ahead – that’s not a prediction it’s an uncertain feature – but we do know that flu cases have been lower in the previous year so immunity and the strain types are a little more uncertain.”
